The Forward Collective Incubation Program 2025 for mentors

days to apply

Use your expertise to strengthen innovative businesses — and grow professionally

Join the Forward Collective program and support early-stage founders as they build and grow their businesses regarding financial health solutions. Ready to create meaningful impact while developing your own skills?

Supported by
MetLife Foundation

Volunteer Mentoring Opportunity for MetLife Employees

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Applications open until February 12, 2026

Online

UK, Ireland and France

6 months

Certificate of participation available

Why participate as part of your Employee Engagement Program?

Support a project that inspires you

Explore entrepreneur profiles and choose the startup or project that resonates most with your interests and expertise. Your industry knowledge can be the catalyst that accelerates their growth to drive real impact.

Learn and grow alongside entrepreneurs

This is hands-on learning. You’ll follow a structured mentoring journey with clear milestones, practical tools, and simple step-by-step guidance.

Access top-tier business tools

You’ll use the same high-quality entrepreneurship framework and methodologies that founders follow—enhancing both your strategic mentoring abilities.

Strengthen your leadership skills

Mentoring helps you refine active listening, problem-solving, teamwork and communication—skills you can bring back to your team.

A high-impact, structured mentoring experience

Flexible and global

Mentor through the Bridge for Billions digital platform. Designed for busy professionals, the program adapts to your schedule without compromising on impact.

Help entrepreneurs overcome real challenges

Entrepreneurship is often a lonely journey. Your support will help founders validate their ideas, refine their business models, and gain confidence moving forward.

Build meaningful connections

Join a vibrant community of inclusive innovators, colleagues, and fellow mentors. Expand your professional network while contributing to something bigger.

Do you have questions about the programme?

To learn more or resolve any doubts you may have, we organise online information sessions. Choose the time and day that suits you best and meet our team.

About the Program

This entrepreneurship initiative empowers early-stage founders by providing guidance, tools, and opportunities to build and grow viable businesses in financial health solutions. Rooted in equity and access, the program connects corporate volunteers with entrepreneurs who benefit deeply from encouragement, expertise, and structured support to become the next generation of inclusive innovators.

Through your participation, you help create more inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Interested in Mentoring? You are the right fit if you...

Feel motivated to support entrepreneurs on their journey Interested in supporting financial health solution businesses in UK and France
Ideally possess at least 3–5 years of professional experience post-graduation, regardless of your role or specific area of expertise.
Mentors are encouraged to dedicate 4–6 hours per month to follow-up mentoring sessions to ensure the best experience. If co-mentoring, the commitment can be reduced to 2–3 hours per month.
Have access to a computer and stable internet

Curious about joining us? Our Info Sessions have the answers.

Register to learn more about this program, meet our staff and ask us questions.

How to apply to the program?

Create your profile

1

Start by clicking on the “Apply now!” button.

Fill in your personal information to set up an account on our platform.

Remember your email and password for future access.

2 Complete all sections

Work at your own pace through all sections of the application.

Once completed, all the checkmarks at the top will turn blue, indicating that you’re ready to submit.

Note: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.

Submit your application and await further news

3

We recommend that you review your application in detail one last time. If you’re good to go, click “Submit” in the lower right corner.

Make sure to submit your application by February 12, 2026.

Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application.

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Submit your application by February 12, 2026

Important dates

Applications

Open until February 12, 2026

Start by making a profile on our platform and telling us more about you and your project. After you send in your application, we'll look through all the applicants who are interested in joining program.

Participant announcement

February 17, 2026

We'll carefully review all applications to choose the participants for this edition. If selected, your next step will be to accept your spot in the program!

Welcome session

February 24, 2026

Join us for a welcome session to dive into the details program! We'll introduce you to the program's schedule, your role, and the tools you'll use to help the entrepreneur develop their business. Don't miss out on this chance to learn more about what lies ahead and meet other selected mentors!

Matching phase

February 24 - March 23, 2026

The matching process begins! You will have the opportunity to send invites to the entrepreneurs you're more interested in. Once you have met with them, you and they will submit your preferences to let us know who you wish to work with. We will then try our best to form winning pairs.

Entrepreneurship program

March 23 - July 31, 2026

The online incubation experience begins! From here you'll dive into weekly mentoring sessions, use the practical tools in our digital platform, and follow our entrepreneurship step-by-step plan. You will have 6 months to guide the entrepreneurs through all the modules and support them in developing their business plan. In September 2026 we'll host the final online demo day where top entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their business.

Frequently asked questions from our mentors

How much time should I dedicate to the program as a mentor?

During the 6 months of the program, mentors are encouraged to dedicate 4–6 hours per month (ideally weekly meetings) to follow-up mentoring sessions to ensure the best experience.

If you cannot dedicate these hours, we will opt for co-mentoring (2-3 hours per month) with another mentor to follow the assigned entrepreneur. This path allows you to broaden your knowledge by supporting a local entrepreneur while collaborating with another professional.

What technology tools do I need for the program?

For the program, we recommend you use a computer with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Make sure your internet is stable for weekly activities and video calls with your entrepreneur.

Can I mentor more than one project?

Absolutely. But we encourage you to thoughtfully consider your availability and commitments. It is important not to overextend yourself or commit beyond what your time and energy allow.

How are mentors and entrepreneurs matched?

To facilitate the process of connecting mentors and entrepreneurs, we have created the “matching” process. During this time, you will have the opportunity to learn about the different projects and invite them to a “Virtual Coffee” to learn about their ideas in detail. Both parties can then decide if they wish to work together. Thus, we ensure that we create solid, lasting mentoring relationships based on mutual interest.

Will I receive a final certificate?

At the end of the program, you will receive a final Mentoring Certificate. This certificate symbolizes not only your generosity and commitment, but also the positive impact you have had as a mentor and the skills you have gained throughout this process.

Contact Us

Meet Bianca, Senior Program Manager for the Forward Collective program at Bridge for Billions.

You can send her an email with any questions you have about the program.

She’ll be happy to hear from you!

This program has been built by

Supported by
MetLife Foundation

For more information, please visit our website

days to apply

Use your expertise to strengthen innovative businesses — and grow professionally

Supported by MetLife Foundation

Volunteer Mentoring Opportunity for MetLife Employees

Apply before:

Applications open until February 12, 2026

Online

UK, Ireland and France

6 months

Certificate of participation available

Why participate as part of your Employee Engagement Program?

Support a project that inspires you

Learn and grow alongside entrepreneurs

Access top-tier business tools

Strengthen your leadership skills

A high-impact, structured mentoring experience

Flexible and global

Help entrepreneurs overcome real challenges

Build meaningful connections

Do you have questions about the programme?

About the Program

Interested in Mentoring? You are the right fit if you...

Curious about joining us? Our Info Sessions have the answers.

Register to learn more about this program, meet our staff and ask us questions.

How to apply to the program?

Create your profile

1

2

Complete all sections

Submit your application and await further news

3

Apply before:

Submit your application by February 12, 2026

Important dates

Frequently asked questions from our mentors

Contact Us

Supported by
MetLife Foundation